Career Planning Process

Interests are the strongest predictor of job satisfaction. Many people have an idea of their interests but don’t know how they connect with the world of work. Here are some activities to get you started on learning more about your interests.

• Reflecting on your past/current jobs, make a list of what you like and dislike. Keep in mind that our likes and dislikes change over time so taking stock can help you make decisions about future job/career choices.
• Our visual and interactive Holland code activity can help you to identify your interests and determine how they correspond with occupations. Contact April McHugh (april.mchugh@wisc.edu) for the activity.

Other interest assessments:

• O*NET Interest Profiler – FREE. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this is a free assessment. Results include a list of careers related to your interests.
• Self-Directed Search (SDS) – SMALL FEE. The SDS is a career interest inventory offered by Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR), typically for a small fee.

Most people have between 200 and 500 skills! There are three categories of skills:

• Adaptive/self-management skills = personality traits or characteristics
• Job skills = skills specific to a particular job
• Transferable/functional skills = skills used in many different jobs

The key is identifying not only what skills you have but also the skills you enjoy using.
Our Motivated Skills activity can help you determine your power skills (the skills you are good at and also enjoy using). Contact April McHugh (april.mchugh@wisc.edu) for the activity.

Values are the emotional salary of work and help determine what gives work meaning. Taking time to understand your work values can help you find work that is fulfilling.

Take our Values Clarification activity to help discern your values. Contact April McHugh (april.mchugh@wisc.edu) for the activity.

Understanding your personality preferences can help you with the career planning process, both in determining career fields but also work settings that might be a good fit.

Learn about your preferences

• Available at no cost, 16 Personalities is a short personality assessment analyzing your personal traits.
• Also free, O*Net’s Work styles provides another way of looking at preferences.

Resources for learning more about career fields that interest you.

• O*Net Online Includes tools to search for careers based on your skills, interests, work styles and more.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook Learn about careers of interest to you.
• Professional organizations A great way to learn about a new industry or career field. Many organizations include preparation, training, and education information on their websites.

What is informational interviewing?

Informational interviews are one of the best ways to gain information about a new field or a new sector within your current field. These are conversations with people doing the work that interests you. Informational interviews can also be useful if you are relocating to a new geographical area and want to get the lay of the land within your field.

There is no way of knowing with 100% certainty what a new profession might be like, but informational interviewing is a proven way to learn more. Informational interviews are initiated and conducted by you to obtain information from people working in the field. An informational interview is often low-key and informal and is not a job interview.

We recommend talking with 3 or more people in your field of interest to get a comprehensive view of what the work is like and how it might vary depending on the setting.

Benefits of informational interviewing

• Acquire firsthand, relevant information about working within a specific field of interest and/or a specific organization of interest to you
• Clarify your career goals
• Learn about career paths related to your field of interest
• Gain insider knowledge and advice from professionals in the field
• Develop and expand your professional network in your field of interest

A few guidelines

• Never ask for a job
• Be prepared and respectful
• Get names of other people to contact
• Don’t offer your resume unless asked for it

Why would anyone want to talk to me?

Believe it or not, people who are happily employed enjoy talking about their field and may even feel honored that someone wants to know about what they do.

Follow these steps:

1. Identify people to interview

   • Your current contacts. People you know, even if they aren’t in your field of interest, can often lead you to people who are. Ask family, friends, and acquaintances if they know anyone who works in that field.
   • College or university. Most universities and colleges maintain an alumni database. Check with your school’s alumni office. Reconnect with past instructors.
   • Social media. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, What’s App, and other social media sources can be great ways to connect with all kinds of people.
   • Community resources. Check with career-service offices and your local library. Talk with people you see on a regular basis: other parents or teachers at your kid’s school, your barber or hairstylist, your neighbors, etc.
   • Company/organization websites. Identify companies or organizations in your field of interest, and find phone numbers or emails of people doing the type of work you want to do.
   • Professional organizations. Do a search to see if there is a professional organization for your field of interest. Hint, the board of directors is usually a good starting place!
   • Still having problems identifying someone? You might need to broaden the area before narrowing it again. For example, if you are interested in becoming a firefighter and can’t find one to talk with, ask your Aunt Sue, the police officer, if she knows any firefighters. Chances are pretty good that she does.

2. Prepare

   • Determine your primary purpose. Are you curious about the day-to-day activities; the work climate in a particular field; and the steps for getting into that field? New to town and trying to get the lay of the land in your current field? Do you want to know more about a specific company?
   • Write your questions. Write out 5-10 questions that meet your informational needs; the number will depend on the length of the interview. Ask open-ended questions; leave time and anticipate the person will talk about topics that you may have not asked about.
   • Do your homework. Learn much as you can about the types of positions and the organization, so you can ask questions that websites can’t answer.

3. Initiate contact

   • Call or email. Contact the person you want to interview. Mention how you got their name.
   • Request the interview. Ask for a convenient time to have a 20-30 minute appointment and if they prefer an in-person or phone appointment.
   • Emphasize what you want. Make sure they understand you want to set up an informational interview, not a job interview.
   • Be ready. The person may say they have time while you are on the phone with them so be ready to ask questions on the spot.If the person you contact is not able to talk with you, ask if they can refer you to someone else in the field.

4. Conduct the interview

   • Dress professionally. Dress as you would for an interview.
   • Respect your interviewee’s time. Arrive on time or a few minutes early.
   • Limit the meeting to the agreed-upon time frame.
   • Have your questions ready. Make sure you are organized and that your questions are clear. Ask follow up questions as necessary and take notes.
     You’re in charge. You need to initiate and keep the conversation going.
   • Before concluding. Be sure to ask for names of other people and if you may follow up with additional questions.

5. Follow up

   • Reflect. Go over your notes after the interview.
   • Keep a record. Maintain a list of people you’ve talked with, what you learned, and what else you still would like to know.
   • Send a thank-you. Whether by email or card, send a thank you within 1-2 days of the interview, perhaps noting one or two points you found particularly helpful.
   • Reach out. If your interviewee recommended others to talk with, make sure you reach out to them and ask for time to meet. Then repeat the above steps!

Suggested Questions

Select 5-10 questions that are appropriate for your target career and stage of decision-making. You may want to combine some questions—or create your own.

Preparation questions

• What credentials, educational degrees, licenses, etc. are required for entry?
• How did you get started in this field? Is that typical? How have entry requirements changed?
• What kind of work experience provides a good background?
• What is the profile of someone who is successful in this field?
• Are there volunteer opportunities that would help someone qualify for a position in this field?

Position-related questions

• What do you like most and least about your job?
• What do you spend most of your time doing in a typical work day/week?
• What problems/decisions are you likely to face on a given day?
• What do you wish you had known prior to entering this field?
• Where do you see yourself going from here?

Lifestyle questions

• How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, vacation, place of residence, and work hours?
• What obligations does your work place upon your personal time?
• Does your company offer flex or comp time? Tuition reimbursement? Other benefits?

Employer questions

• Who determines what tasks you will work on and how you structure your time?
• How would you characterize your working relations and environment (formal, informal, etc.)?
• Do you primarily work alone or collaborate with others?
• How are decisions made? What is the company’s management philosophy?
• What are the criteria on which your performance is evaluated?

Career field/industry questions

• What trends are emerging in this field?
• What are the most important areas in this field/industry?
• Is relocation ever necessary?
• How often do people in this field change jobs?
• What are the salary ranges for various levels in this field?
• What professional development or training opportunities are there?
• What are related fields or paths?

Advice questions

• Is it realistic for me to plan on working in this field?
• What professional associations or organizations might be useful to contact for information or join?
• What steps would you advise someone to take in order to start and build a career in your field?
• How does one hear about job openings in this field?

Next steps questions

• What other people do you think I would benefit from talking with? May I use your name when I contact them?
• If I have any further questions, may I stay in contact with you?

The labor market is an important factor when you are considering a new career. Here are questions to ask as you explore careers:

• What industries and occupations are growing in my area?
• What are the job openings in my area?
• What are the hot jobs?

• Employment projections
  Information on the national labor market from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Wisconsin labor market information
  Wisconsin economic and labor market information
• Industry Tools
  Recent data on industries regionally and nationally.

As you explore various career options keep in mind what, if any, additional training you might need.

• Find Training
  Learn about options for short-term training, professional development, college, apprenticeships, certificates and more.
• Employment and Training Programs
  Find information about employment and training programs funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and whether you might qualify for them.
• Peterson’s
  Search engine for finding education programs. The College and Scholarship search is located in the upper left hand corner.
• Distance education accrediting commission (DEAC) Explore options for accredited distance education.
• UW–Madison options
  Education opportunities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The idea of making a career change can be scary. What if I make the “wrong” choice? Well here is the good news, there are likely several good choices you can make. There is no way to know, with 100% certainty, if a career you choose will be a good fit but that’s why taking the time to explore your options is so important. Did you skip that step? If so, go back and review Explore options.

Use the information you learned exploring options to help you make a decision. Our Decision Making Obstacle worksheet can help with this process. Contact April McHugh (april.mchugh@wisc.edu) for the worksheet.

“It is always a good idea to have a game plan in life, but make sure you write it in pencil and have an eraser ready.”
– Anonymous student

Goals keep us moving forward in life. Whether your goal is doing that one next task at work or taking the first step to make a career change, you will have more success meeting your goals if you use SMART goals. Contact April McHugh (april.mchugh@wisc.edu) for our SMART goal worksheet.

Most of us think we need to have a firm career decision before we take action but the opposite is true. It is in taking action that we further refine our career plans.

• Action is the enemy of fear
• Act on your curiosity
• Act even if unsure of outcome
• Don’t get stuck searching for perfect action

Contact April McHugh (april.mchugh@wisc.edu) for our Action Plan worksheet.

Start by asking yourself, what types of skills and experience do you need to move into your dream job? Dipping your toe into a new field can also help you determine whether it’s a good fit for you, while also helping you build your network.

Volunteer

11 ways volunteering can help you find a job

Internships

Adult internships a growing trend

Part-time jobs

Side gigs or freelance work can be another great way to gain experience in a new field.

• Using social media to expand your network
• Professional organizations

What is networking?

Networking is the action of interacting with others to gather and exchange information and develop contacts. It’s about connecting with others to build mutually beneficial relationships.

When you are searching for a job, having a robust network is crucial. But don’t wait until you are searching for a job to connect. Networking can also help you on an everyday basis to keep up with the latest trends in your field, learn about a new career, and make connections for others building their networks.

How to network

Identify your network

Everyone you know is in your network! Build on your network by asking someone you know for one or two names and then ask those people for names. Here’s a list of ideas to get you started:

• family and friends
• co-workers (past and current)
• community members
• volunteer contacts
• professional groups
• school classmates, instructors, staff (college and high school)
• your college alumni association

Introduce yourself

Create a brief story (aka elevator pitch) highlighting your background and experience as it relates to what you are doing or want to be doing (for career changers). Practice your story. Use this story to introduce yourself to potential contacts. Always carry and use business cards.

Ask open-ended questions, listen, and be curious.

Just as important as telling your story is listening to the stories of people with whom you wish to connect. Ask questions about their background, interests, advice, trends, etc.

Attend networking events

Some people loath the idea of attending networking events. Regardless of how you feel about such events, determine whether or not you think the event will benefit your objectives and if the right people will be there.

Be proactive

Offer to help on projects in the community or at work. Volunteer with an organization of interest. Set up coffee or lunch meetings with your connections. Take a class. Try something new.

Become a connector

Help those in your network connect with others in order to build their own networks.

Be intentional about social media

Trying to connect with someone at a specific organization? Ask your social media contacts if they know anyone there. Connect or reconnect with former classmates, coworkers, friends, etc.

Use LinkedIn to connect

Use LinkedIn to connect and build your network. Here are a few tips:

• Make sure your profile is in good shape
• Reach out to potential connections with a customized request rather than using LinkedIn’s default message
• Join LinkedIn groups that align with your interests, have many members, and are active
• Connect with alumni from your alma mater and join any groups related to your school
• Engage with your contacts by liking and commenting on their posts, providing your own status updates, and sharing articles or other content.

Tips for building and maintaining your network

Join

• Join at least one professional or trade association in your field or field of interest. Attend their meetings and get involved. Join organizations that best meets your needs.
• Get involved with your alumni association. Pursue local chapters or set one up yourself. Submit current information concerning your career achievements to the alumni association and follow up with other alumni in your interest area.

Learn

• Attend professional conferences. Introduce yourself to speakers and attendees. Obtain a list of attendees and speakers and keep in touch using LinkedIn or other methods.
• Consider professional development programs an opportunity to increase your skills and knowledge, AND a chance to expand your network.
• Attend short programs and speeches in areas of interest sponsored by networking groups, adult and continuing education, alumni associations, professional and trade associations, and community and governmental organizations.

Interact and participate

• Keep in touch with professors and instructors of college, university, and adult and continuing education courses.
• Plan on meeting your contacts regularly for breakfast, lunch, or coffee, whatever fits into your schedule.
• Invite your contacts to attend professional meetings, programs, and speeches.
• Introduce your different contacts to each other and let others know you are open to and interested in meeting new people.
• When looking for information, request recommendations and introductions from your contacts.
• Keep your eyes and ears open to contacts’ news. Send notes of congratulations for noteworthy events. Send notes of encouragement and sympathy when appropriate.
• Connect with authors of books and articles in your field. Establish and pursue a connection via social media (including LinkedIn) or email.
• Offer to participate in user groups and committees in your organization. Be open to working with members of different departments and divisions within your organization.

Share

• Contribute articles to LinkedIn, journals, and newsletters of trade and professional associations.
• Connect with the editors, staff, and readers.
• Share articles of interest with your contacts and send or post them with a short note.
• Recommend and exchange resources. Pass along reviews, newsletters, articles, reports, and program materials.

Follow up

• Express appreciation. Send thank-you notes or take your contacts out to lunch.
• Continue to grow your list of contacts and connect with people on a regular basis. Then maintain an active network by reaching out periodically to the people on your contact list.
• Create a system for keeping track of your network of connections. Keep track of contact name, organization, position title, email, mailing address, LinkedIn profile, and phone numbers. Make a habit of collecting business cards and establish a system for filing them.

• Job Center of Wisconsin
• Worker Re-employment Portal
• Madison Writing Assistance
• Job Seeker Assistance at Madison Public Libraries
• Company Research
• Jobs at UW–Madison
• Employees should look for all available jobs, both internal and external, via Workday. Log into your Workday account, hover over the Organization tab on the left, and select “Jobs Hub”.